New LaCuO_3-δ perovskites prepared at high oxygen pressure

The authors report the synthesis, structure and preliminary characterization of a new oxygen-defect perovskite, LaCuO3 related directly to the superconducting cuprates. The perovskite LaCuO3 can be considered the fully-oxidized, three dimensional prototype of the layered high-Tc materials. Its x-ray powder diffraction pattern was indexed on the basis of a rhombohedrally-distorted perovskite cell and it is reported to be fully stoichiometric and to display metallic properties down to 77K.